Shocking moment man riding electric scooter jumps red light at busy junction

by

Shocking moment man riding electric scooter jumps red light at busy junction before weaving through oncoming traffic

  • A driving instructor shared dashcam footage of the reckless man on a scooter 
  • People responded to the video with anger over how dangerous the move was
  •  It has been legal in the UK to use electric scooters on the road since July, 4

By Jordan King For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

A man narrowly avoids oncoming traffic as he jumps a red light on an electric scooter and cross a busy junction.   

A driving instructor shared the video of the reckless move on London Road in Mitcham in the London Borough of Merton.

The clip starts with the man scooting on the pavement towards the learning car which has stopped at traffic lights. 

Once past the learner driver he joins the road, and without stopping, shockingly makes an illegal right turn weaving at speed between the flow of traffic.

The man then joins the pavement and disappears out of view as he heads towards the town centre.

The man on the electric scooter does not stop at the red traffic light and continues into oncoming traffic

Once the man is on the other side of the road he has to dodge oncoming cars by going between them

Once the man is on the other side of the road he has to dodge oncoming cars by going between them

Sharing the footage online Nurudeen Ali said: ‘The electric scooters are hard to see and hard to hear.’

Terence Dite commented: ‘Yet another uncontrollable hazard for drivers, in an attempt to persuade everyone to stop using their vehicles.’

Kate Le Conte wrote: ‘Electric scooters are good, however how come people riding them don’t have rules, seems a bit bull as they are dangerous.’

Dwight Sanders said: ‘That was sick, good set of balls on this guy.’

Tim James added: ‘Nawww, I thought he was going to get hit…. damn.’

Since July 4, it has been legal in the UK to use electric scooters on the road, cycle paths and cycle lanes – but only if it is insured as part of a hire scheme and limited to 15.5mph.

New legislation has allowed companies and local authorities to start a 12-month trial, offering road-legal electric scooters for hire.

Eventually he crosses the busy road and disappears down a side street towards the town centre

Eventually he crosses the busy road and disappears down a side street towards the town centre

To hire an electric scooter you must be 16 years or over, and hold a valid provisional driving license, it will not mandatory to wear a helmet but it is recommended.

If you have your own electric scooter it will remain illegal to use anywhere accept on private land, with the land owners permission. 

Those flouting the rules risk a £300 fixed penalty notice and 6 points on their license (if they have one).

Last year TV presenter Emily Hartridge was riding her electric scooter on a busy roundabout when she was hit by a lorry and killed.  

The former Channel 4 presenter, 35, was the first person to die in the UK in an accident involving an e-scooter – leaving behind her devastated family and boyfriend. 

Later on her boyfriend, who had given her the scooter as a gift, revealed that she had been on the way to a fertility clinic scan on the day she died. 

YouTube star Emily Hartridge was en route to a fertility clinic scan last July when she was killed in a crash on her e-scooter. Pictured is the presenter showing her joy as she is presented with the scooter

YouTube star Emily Hartridge was en route to a fertility clinic scan last July when she was killed in a crash on her e-scooter. Pictured is the presenter showing her joy as she is presented with the scooter

What is the current law on e-scooters in Britain? 

According to the Department of Transport, e-scooters are classed as ‘powered transporters’ and meet the legal definition of a ‘motor vehicle’.

They must therefore meet a number of requirements in order to be used on the road, including having insurance and conforming to ‘technical standards.’

As they do not, they are considered illegal to use on roads in Britain.

The Metropolitan Police has also said it is illegal to use e-scooters on the road and riders risk being fined or even having penalty points on their licence.

Riders also risk having their e-scooters seized by police.

The Department of Transport said e-scooters are covered by the 1988 Road Traffic Act, which also includes Segways, hoverboards, go-peds (combustion engine-powered kick scooters), powered unicycles, and u-wheels’.

The ban does not apply to electrically-assisted pedal bicycles.

According to the Department of Transport: ‘For motor vehicles to use public roads lawfully, they must meet a number of different requirements. These include insurance; conformity with technical standards and standards of use; payment of vehicle tax, licensing, and registration; driver testing and licensing; and the use of relevant safety equipment.

‘If the user of a powered transporter could meet these requirements, it might in principle be lawful for them to use public roads. However, it is likely that they will find it very difficult to comply with all of these requirements, meaning that it would be a criminal offence to use them on the road.’

E-scooters are also banned from using pavements under the 1835 Highway Act. E-scooters can be used on private land with the landowner’s permission.

However, from Saturday, you will be able to use them – under certain conditions. 

A legal framework governing trials is set to confirm that vehicles will be limited to 15mph and will only be allowed on roads, cycle lanes and tracks, but not pavements.